Mary Allen
Stye is an inflammatory eye disease. Contrary to what you might think, many dogs suffer from this disease.
Since a stye is very uncomfortable for the dog and causes pain, it should be treated quickly.
In this article, learn what causes a stye and how you can treat it.
Can dogs even get a stye in the eye?
Yes, dogs can get a stye too. In general, stye is one of the most common eye diseases in dogs.
There are some dogs that are particularly sensitive. These are more prone to styes. This is especially true for dogs with a weakened immune system.
A strong immune system is therefore the best prophylaxis.
What is a stye and what does it look like in dogs?
A stye is an inflammation of the eye. This causes a reddish swelling on the eyelid. The stye can appear either below or above the eyelid.
The thickening is grain-like and initially quite small and inconspicuous. As it progresses, it swells.
The stye is very painful for the dog due to the swelling.
Good to know
The stye looks like a small grain. Hence the name. However, it has nothing in common with the grain. Instead, it is a boil.
Stye in the dog: causes
The causes of a stye in dogs are very different. A common trigger is a weakened immune system.
Inflammation of the hair follicle can also cause a stye to develop.
In most cases, however, staphylococci are responsible for the disease.
Allergies, itchy and dry eyes lead to irritation of the eye, which can favor a stye.
Is a stye contagious in dogs?
Basically, a stye can be contagious because it is a bacterial infection.
However, if a few hygienic standards are observed, the risk of infection is limited.
It is important that the contents of the barley grain do not come into contact with your own mucous membranes or open wounds. Thorough hand washing can therefore prevent infection.
What to do if the dog has a stye?
If your dog is suffering from a stye, it is imperative that he be taken to the vet. He will examine more closely whether the swelling is really a stye or whether it has another cause.
The doctor decides which treatment is suitable. Sometimes the administration of antibiotics is necessary.
In order for it to be removed, the stye must first ripen a little. Warm compresses can help here.
Immediate removal is often not possible. After ripening, the veterinarian will pierce the stye.
Alternatively, if the inflammation is mild, the doctor may prescribe ointments for relief.
Treatment with ointment
If the inflammation is only mild, you can try to heal the stye with an ointment containing antibiotics.
The ointment requires a prescription. It is usually applied directly to the eyelid twice a day.
However, if there is no improvement, a small operation in which the barley grain is cut open is unavoidable.
Treatment with homeopathy and home remedies
To help the healing process, you can put warm compresses on your dog’s stye three times a day. This allows the stye to mature better and then be removed by the vet.
If the dog puts up with it, the stye can also be rinsed with a saline solution. The saline solution is dabbed onto the stye using a clean towel.
This relieves the itching. In some cases, the stye can also disappear completely with this treatment.
When to the vet?
As soon as eye swelling is discovered, you should take your dog to the vet. He can make an accurate diagnosis and also suggest a treatment plan.
If left untreated, the stye can continue to swell and cause more pain.
If the stye reaches a certain size, the dog can no longer close its eyes properly, which also has a negative effect on eye health.
The vet will prick the stye as soon as it is ripe enough.
Removing Styes: Are There Other Treatment Options?
A stye should always be treated under the direction of the veterinarian.
In many cases, the stye has to be punctured by the veterinarian. You should definitely not try to express it yourself.
How long does it take for the stye to go away?
How long a stye persists depends on the particular treatment. If the stye is only treated with ointments and compresses, it can heal itself within 10 days.
If the condition does not improve, the stye must be removed by the vet after a few days. After removal, healing is very rapid.
Conclusion
A stye is a painful affair for dogs. Therefore, it should be treated as soon as possible, also to avoid further eye diseases.
Going to the vet is inevitable with a stye. They will look at the stage of the disease and suggest appropriate treatment. It usually has to be punctured professionally so that the liquid can drain out.
Has your dog ever had a stye and how was it treated?